Pleasure car



June 12, 1928.

, E. BROWN PLEASURE CAR Filed J n. 28, 1927 LLA75 ONUEKERIDE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Essz azaziy/i I lzaio 2P w .90 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY June 12, 1928.

E. BROWN PLEASURE CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [7511s E/"a INVENTOR Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES ELSIE BROWN; OF BUFFALO, YORK.

PLEASURE CAR.

Application filed January 28, 1927. Serial no. 164,274.

My present invention has referenceto an amusement device of the type known as merry-go-rounds and carrousels employed 1n parks, at fairs and the like. a

An object is the provision of an amusement device of this character in which the parts constituting the same may be readily disconnected and folded in. a small package for storage or transportation but which when in set up conditionvwill afford a strong and rigid structure. H p

A further object is the provision of an amusement device of this characterthat shall present an ornamental appearance and constructed to represent the coach, or rather a plurality of connected coaches, employed by Cinderella in the. fairy story, the device being mounted on wheels which travel on a circular track and being operated by a motor which is suitably controlled, there being also associated with the device a musical in strument which is operated simultaneously with the device, and there being also means for injecting a continuous blast of air through the bottom.- of the coachcompartments which will afford both surprise and amusement to the occupants thereof as well as effectively ventilating such compartments.

A further object is the construction of an amusement device of this type in which a hollow shaft is mounted for rotation, upon a stationary post or axle, the said shaft having a hub from which radiate the movably connected spokes, the outer ends of the spokes being formed with spindles for the traction wheels and the. latter travel on a circular track, the spokes at their outer ends and inward thereof having uprights secured thereto and partitions, including floors and ceilings are connected to these uprights, to divide the device into a plurality of compartments, access to which beingobtained through suitable doors, while the top for the device comprises a fabric whose outer edge is lapped over a ring member secured to the outer uprights, and in which adjustable and flexible means between: the said outer posts and the hollow shaft support the-top, there being means for revolving the shaft, means for operating a musical instrument during the turning of the device and means for injecting a blast of air through. the bottom of the compartments when the deviceis operated, the volume of. air being comparatively small at the starting of the device:butir: creasing as the device; is rotated.

To the attainment of the above broadly stated objects and many others which will present themselves as the nature of the inventionis better understood, the improvement also resides in certain other novel fea-- tures of construction, combinationyandioperative association of parts, one satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the ac companyi'ng drawings} In the drawings: qFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement. A a 1 i Figure 2"is a top plan 'view thereof, with the cover removed, and with parts in section. 1 I

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of FigureQ.

Figure 4: is a sectional view approximately on the line H of Figure 2. t i Figure 5 is a side elevation of the hub for the hollow shaft.

Figure 6 is a sect-ionalview ontheline 6 6 of Figure 7. v

'Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 6. g i I 3 Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a side elevation of the collector ring. a i

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 4. a v I I In carrying out my invention I employ a hollow metal base 1 that has on its lower edge an outstanding flange 2 which rests on the; ground on which the improvementis erected. The base has a central tubular socketportion 3' which projects beyond the flange '2 so that the lower end thereofis embedded in the ground. The second end has a squared bore for the reception of the squared end 4 of the cross sectionally rounded post or axle 5. p i ;Arrangedover the axle 5 and rotatable therearound there is a tubular shaft 6. This shaft has fixed adjacent to its lower end a hub 7. The hub is arranged directly over thefiat top of the base 1, and the confrontingfaces of the hub and base are provided with race-ways for anti-frictional elements 8.

The'hub from itsouter face has equi-dis tantly spaced T-shap'ed sockets 9 therein. In each of thesefsockets there is designed to be received cross sectionally T-shaped spokes 10, removable means 11 passing through thejhub and effectively sustaining the spokes in the sockets The-spokes 10,

of course, radiate from the hub and are of an equal length. Each spoke preferably has its web portion, at its outer end thickened, as at 11, (Figure 7), and extending from these thickened ends there are spindles 12 oneach of which there is journaled a wheel 13. The wheels travel on a circular track 14. Except for the wheels, all of the elements above described are of metal and are associated for easy separation, The wheels 13 are, of course, held'on their spindles by the usual nuts. v a a r Each spoke, on its upper face, at and inward of its outer end has removably fixed thereto angle brackets 15 and 16, respectively. 'lhe'upstanding flanges of the brackets 15 and 16 are received in cross sectionally U- shaped metal members, the outer members and posts being indicated by the numerals 17 and the inner members by the numerals 18. To the sides: of the posts 17 and 18 there are secured partition plates 19, and below the partition plates there are supported on the spokes floor plates 20. To the ends of the partition plates 19 there are secured the flanged ends'of plates 21 and 22 that provide the front and rear of the compartments 23 of the device. The outer or front plates of the compartments are provided with window openings 24 and with a door opening between said window openings, the last mentioned opening being normally closed by a hinged door 25 having suitable latching means 26. It is to be noted that the removable means, preferably in the nature of nuts and bolts that connect the posts 17 and 18 to the partitions 19 likewise connect thefront and inner plates 21 and 22 with the partition plates, so that the compartments of the device can be easily and quickly set up. The compartments 23 are each coveredby a top, the same being preferably in the nature of an upwardly bulged or arched plate 27, the edges of the top plates being flanged downwardlyand secured by removable brackets 28 to the walls of the compartments. In each compartment, at the ends thereof, there are seats 29 for the occupants, and each, compartment has its bottom or floor centrally formed with an opening surrounded by a depending box-like casing 30, the latter being provided with an apertured top 31. The inner posts 18 are of the same length, but these posts are of a less length than the outer posts 17. These posts 17, adjacent tothe upper endsthereof, are braced by a metal band. The band is made up of segments 32 that have flanged ends 33 that rest against the sides of the posts 17,- and are secured thereon by removable means 34. Opposite the band there is removably secured on each post an ornamented plate 35 shaped torepresent a shield, there being spacing means 26 between the shield 35 and the post.

The'axle 5 extends a slight but suitable distance above the hollow shaft (5 and has fixed on its upper end a staff for a flag or pennant. The top of the hollow shaft 6 is formed or provided with a downwardly extending outwardly flared cap 37 and below the cap there is'fixed on the shaft (3 a ring or band 38. The band 38 is provided on its periphery with spaced ears 39, and to each of these cars there is connected either a rod, wire or like elements 40. The outer ends of each element 40 is connected to the top of one of the posts 17. The elements 40 are adjustable and may have associated therewith ,turn-buckles 41 for accomplishing such adjustment so that the said elements w1ll be retained taut when the device is set up.

Arranged beneath and if desired 'reinovably secured tothe outer'face of the cap 37, and resting on the elements 40 there is the canvas top 41' of the improvement. The top is made up of segmental strips which have their edges stitched together, and the outer and widened ends of these strips have stitched or otherwise secured thereon a handlike extension 42. This extension or what may be properly termed the flange of the top is received beneath the shields 35 and has passed therethrough the securing means 43 that hold the shields on theposts 17. Y

The band 32 has preferably painted thereon scenes from the fairy storyGinderella and the'outer platespr panels of the several compartments including the doors and windows thereof are ornamented to simulate the well known pictorial illustrations of the coach supposed to have, been occupied by the said Cinderella in the said fairy story. 7 In addition to this there is removably secured to the outer face of the device arched guards 44 for the wheels '13, and steps 45 opposite the said doors 25, the said steps being arranged between the guards 44.

- As far as the description has progressed it will be noted that I have provided a comparatively cheap construction which is high- 1y ornamental and inviting to the pleasure seeking public. It will he further noted that all of the constructions comprise removably associated parts which are of metal, with the exceptionof the canvas top of the improvement.

Removably fixed on the under face of the spokes 10 there is a grooved wheel 46, the said wheel beingpreferably provided with outwardly extending arms for additional and removable securing means. The wheel is really in the nature of a ring and surrounds the base '1. -The wheel has trained in the groove thereof an endless belt 47. This belt has its leads directed around guide wheels 48 and also around a drive wheel 49. The drive wheel 49 has fixed thereon a gear ring 50, and this ring is in mesh with a pinion 51 on the shaft of a motor 52. In

the showing of the drawings the motor is electrically operated and is controlled by a switch 53. The operation of the motor will, of course, revolve the device.

Removably supported on two of the spokes there is a plate 54, and mounted on this plate there is a motor which oper ates a blower 56 of the ordinary construction. The outlet for the blower casing communicates with a circular pipe 57. The pipe 57 is preferably made up of sections, and the said sections being connected together by T-couplings 58 and the angle branches of tl'iese couplings have attached thereto pipe members 59 that lead respectively into each of the casings 30. The pipe 57 is suitably supported on the spokes. I

Between another pair of spokes there is secured a plate 60 that supports thereon a musical instrument, such asan organ 61.- The musical instrument is operated by a motor 62. i

The motors 55 and 62 are, in the showing of the drawings, electrically operated, and, therefore, I removably but fixedly secure around the lower portion of the hub 7 an insulator ring 63. On the outer face of this ring there is fixed copper collector rings 64:. These rings are arranged in spaced pairs and suitably supported between the spokes there are branches 6565 6666 that are wired, respectively to the motors'55 and 62. Also supported between the pairs of spokes there are branches 6767 and 68-68 that contact with the respective pairs of collector rings, and to these branches there are connected the conductors from a battery or like source of power 68. The conductors from the branches 67 and 68 are in the same source of power and one of each-of said conductors terminates in a contact element that is engageable by switches 69 or 70. The battery 68 is also wired to the motor 55.

It will be apparent that by closing the circuit for the motor 52 the device will be caused to travel in a circular path on the track 14. By closing the switch 70 the motor 62 will be thrown into operation so that the musical instrument 61 will be sounded. By closing the circuit to the motor 55 the blower will be actiiated. The blower will force air into the casing 30 and from thence through the apertured top 31 for the said casings so that the occupants of the compartment will be subjected to a continuous blast of air which will occasion both surprise and amusement, such air also effectively ventilating the several compartments.

The simplicity of my construction and the novelty thereof will, it is thought, be per fectly understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates when the foregoing description has been carefully read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Of course, I do not wish to be restricted to the precise details of construction herein disclosed and, therefore, it is to be understood that I hold myself entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fall within the scope of what I claim.

Having described the invention, I claim In a merry-go-round, a central base resting on the ground, an axle removably sup ported therein and arising therefrom, a hollow shaft surrounding the axle, a hub on the shaft, above the base, anti-frictional bearings between the hub and base, removable spokes radiating from the hub, ground wheels journaled on the outer ends of the spokes, removably secured inner and outer uprights on the spokes, removable lates secured to the opposite faces and en s of the posts and providing compartments therebetween, floor plates for the compartments supported on the spokes, and a removable top for each compartment, a sectional ring secured to the outer posts, a downwardly flared cap on the outer and upper end of the hollow shaft, a ring member on the shaft below said cap, adjustable and flexible means secured to the ring member and to the outer posts, a fabric cover supported on the flexible elements having its inner end arranged between the cap and its outer end flanged and disposed overthe sectional ring, removable plates securing the flange of the cover to the post, means for revolving the hollow shaft and the elements connected therewith, control means for said operating means, means for injecting a blast of air into the compartments and control means for said last mentioned means.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

Mas. ELSIE BROWVN. 

